Fireproof shutter.



No. 792,603. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. T. T. LYMAN & H. G. HOOD.

FIREPROOF SHUTTER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS T. LYMAN, OF MONTOLAIR, AND HENRY (J. HOOD, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY; SAID LYMAN ASSIGNOR TO H. W. JOHNS-MANVILLE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FIREPROOF SHUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,603, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed July '7, 1904. Serial No. 215,626.

To all whmn it ntcty concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS T. LYMAN, residing at Montclair, Essex county, and HENRY O. HOOD, residing at Rahway, Union county, State of New Jersey, citizens of the United States of America, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the automatic fireproof protection of openings in the walls of buildings; and more specifically it consists of an automatic fireproof curtain for use in protecting windows in the outer walls of buildings. The requirements of such structures are that they shall not form an unsightly excrescence upon the building, that they shall be capable of daily operation to render certain their continued operativeness, and that they shall act automatically and positively before the heat of a neighboring fire becomes sufficiently great to crack the window-glass. Our invention meets all these requirements and has certain additional advantages hereinafter pointed out.

The preferred form of construction embodying our invention is illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the exterior of a buildingavall, showing a windowcasing with our invention applied thereto, the curtain being up. Fig. 2 is a similar view after the curtain has been automatically dropped. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the inner side of the upper end of the window-casing with one element partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail section along the axis of the curtain-roller. Fig. 5 is a detail section at right angles to plane of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the curtain-roller in cross-section with curtain attached thereto.

Throughout the drawings like referencefigures refer to like parts.

1 represents the wall of the building having the usual window-opening, in which is placed the window-casing 2, which is preferably made of metal. The said casing is formed with a compartment 3 at its upper end, (see Fig. 5,) in which is journaled a shaft 4, which preferably is in the form of a hollow tube, as shown in Fig. 6. On this shaft is wound a flexible curtain 5, preferably made of asbestos cloth, the free end of which projects out through the opening 6 to the exterior of the window-casing and has a heavy bar 7, of iron or similar material, attached to its extremity. This bar and the curtain, which may have stiffening-battens 30, (see Fig. 2,) of metal or other fireproof material, slide up and down in the vertical guides 29 in the window-casing. If desired, the bar 7 may be provided with antifriction-rollers 8 8, running in said guides.

A tape or cord 9 is wound around the shaft 4 in a reverse direction to that in which the curtain is wound and has its free end extending to the interiorof the window-casing and a counterweight 10 connected with it. As shown, the free end of the cord 9 is fastened to the window-casing at 11, and counterweight 10 is connected to the bight of the cord and slides up and down in a guide 12.

13 is a projection formed on the lower end of the curtain, preferably, as shown, in the shape of a metal eye mounted in the bar 7. The vertically-sliding weight 14, carried on the rod 15, which slides in guides 16 16 on the outside of the casing or wall, is adapted to engage this projection 13 when said weight falls. The downward movement of the weight is limited by the nut 17 on the end of the rod 16 or in any other convenient manner. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the rod 1.5 is straight and slides up into the wall, being guided by the tube 16 The downward motion is limited by the upset end 17 a of the rod striking the perforated cap 16 at the lower end of the tube. This weight 14 is normally supported by means of the wire 18, which is stretched around the windowopening on the projections 24 24 or other convenient supports. This wire has a plurality of fusible sections 19 19, any one of which is adapted to melt and part the wire at a temperature lower than that at which the glass of the window would crack.

The shaft 4 is preferably provided with a radial counterweight 20 so placed as to come on the opposite side of the shaft to that on which the end of the curtain is when wound up into its highest position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The compartment 3, in which the curtain is mounted, is connected to the interior of the building or the inner side of the windowcasing by any convenient series of openings 21 21, which may be partly or wholly closed by the sliding panel or register 22. Preferably, also,fine wire-netting 23 is spread across the interior of this opening, as shown in Fig. 5.

The curtain is guided upon shaft 4 by the flanges 25 25, and the cord or tape 9 is guided between one of these flanges and the flange 26.

The curtain is preferably attached to the shaft 4 by means of the clamping-strip 27, through which and the curtain pass the screws 28 28, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Normally the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, with the curtain wound up and positively held in its uppermost position by the radial counterweight 20 and the inner counterweight 10. If it is de sired to operate the curtain to make sure that it is in operative condition, this may be done from the interior of the building by manipulating the cord 9. If fire occurs in the neighborhood of the building protected with our invention, the rising temperature of the air will soon melt one of the fusible sections 19 of the wire 18 and permit the weight 14 to fall. This strikes the projection 13 from the lower end of the curtain a sharp blow, the momentum of the weight being suflicient to overpower the radial counterweight 20 and start the curtain on its downward course. The moment the radial counterweight 20 gets past the center of the shaft 4 it adds its weight to the downward tendency of the cur tain, and the same acquires a momentum that sends it rapidly downward, entirely overpowering the counterweight 10, the result of this operation being represented in Fig. 2. Thereafter of course the parts must be replaced and the broken fusible section of the wire 18 mended, when the apparatus will be again in condition for operation when required. The opening 21 serves as a ventilator for the room and also by causing currents of air to pass through the curtain-compartment prevents accumulation of dust and mildew upon the curtain itself. The gauze 23 prevents the admission of any large particles of dirt to the interior of the building. The battens 30 give the curtains stiflness and also insure their free running in guides 29.

The advantages of our invention comprise its compact construction, which removes it from view of the observer either from the in.- terior or exterior of the building, its positive automatic action, and its ventilating features.

It is evident of course that various changes could be made in the details of construction shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention so long as the novel features thereof were retained.

Having therefore described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a flexible fireproof shutter adapted to slide up and down in said opening, means for holding said shutter above said opening, a movable weight adapted to strike said shutter in its fall and overpower said holding means, and fusible means supporting said weight.

2. The combination of a window-casing, a fireproof curtain supported above the same and adapted to slide down on the outside thereof, a counterweight supporting said curtain, a weight movable outside of said casing and adapted to engage the lower end of the curtain, and fusible means supporting said weight.

3. The combination of a window-casing, a shaft journaled above said. casing, a fireproof curtain wound on said shaft and having its free end projecting outsideof the casing, a cord wound on the sh aft in a direction opposite to that in which the curtain is wound thereon and having its free end projecting inside the casing, a counterweight connected to said cord, a weight located outside the casing mounted in vertical guides, and arranged to engage'the lower end of the curtain, and fusible means supporting said weight.

4. The combination of a rotating shaft, a curtain adapted to roll thereon, a weight on the free end of the curtain, and a radial counterweight on the shaft.

5. The combination with a wall having an opening therein, of a flexible fireproof shutter adapted to slide up and down. in said opening, means for holding said shutter above said opening, a movable weight adapted to strike said shutter in its fall and overpower said holding means, and fusible means supporting said weight, said fusible means comprising a wire extending around the shutter and provided with a plurality of fusible sections.

Signed at New York this 24th day of June, 1904.

THOS. T. LYMAN. HENRY C. HOOD. WVitnesses:

HORACE DUTCI-IER, L. R. Horn. 

